Preview: Fairleigh Dickinson Knights at Mercyhurst Lakers

ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — A matchup of teams on opposite trajectories will tip off the new year in women’s college basketball when the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights visit the winless Mercyhurst Lakers on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.

The Knights (9-4) enter the non-conference contest, organized by the Northeast, riding momentum from an 85-57 rout of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Tuesday. In that victory, three players scored in double figures, led by guard Ava Renninger’s 19 points.

Renninger has been a consistent catalyst for Fairleigh Dickinson, averaging 12.2 points and 5.0 assists over her last five games. Her playmaking will be central against a Mercyhurst defense that has struggled to contain opponents.

The Lakers (0-11) are searching for their first win after a challenging schedule that included road losses to power-conference opponents Syracuse, West Virginia and Michigan State. Their most competitive outing was a 60-57 home loss to Saint Bonaventure on Dec. 12.

Mercyhurst will look to guard Erica Hall to provide a scoring spark. Hall is coming off a 26-point performance at Mount Saint Mary’s on Dec. 15 and led the Lakers with 14 points in their last game at Syracuse.

The game at Mercyhurst Athletic Center presents a stark contrast in seasons. Fairleigh Dickinson has found success with a balanced attack, while the Lakers have been outscored by an average of 33.5 points per game during their winless start.

For Mercyhurst, the homestand offers a critical opportunity to build confidence before Northeast play intensifies. For the visiting Knights, it is a chance to solidify their winning record before a road trip to Chicago State next week.